Improvement in gun-carriages



G. R. WILSON.

Gun Carriage.

Patented Feb. 9, 1869.

WY/Tn @0365 Z W N. PEI'EHS, FMtwLithngn-lphr. Washington D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Gr. R. WILSON, OF IVASI-IINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR- TOHIMSELF, \VILLIAM FITCH, HARVEY M. VAILE, AND CHARLES E.

RITTENHOUSE, OF SAME PLACE.

GUN-CARRIAGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 86,720, dated February9, 1869.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, G. It. \VILsON, of\Vashin gton, in the county of Washington and District of Columbia, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Gun-Carriages andmethods of operating the same; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, makin g part of thisspecification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, likeletters indicating like parts wherever they occur.

To enable others skilled in the art to construct and use my invention, Iwill proceed to describe it.

My invention consists, first, in a novel method of constructingcarriagesfor ordnance; second, in a novel construction of the chassis, and of thesecuring and arranging of the guncarriage thereon; third, in providingthe carriage and chassis with devices for operating the gun; and,fourth, in a novel method of checking the recoil of the gun and itscarriage, all as hereinafter more fully explained.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top-plan view of the chassisand carriage mounted thereon, complete. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, witha portion of the chassis broken away and the carriage shown in section.Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section on the line 00 m of Fig. 2. Fig.4 is a longitudinal vertical section of a modified form of the carriageon the line 2 z of Fig. 5, and Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the same.

In the construction of my improved guncarriage, I provide plates ofwrought-iron, of suitable thickness-half an inch, more or less ofsufficient size to form an entire side piece, from which I cut out, insuitable form, as represented by A, Figs. 2 and 4, duplicate pieces,these pieces having holes cut in them, as shown, to any desired extent,to render them as light as possible consistent with the requiredstrength. These side plates A are then united near their front by across-plate, B, and also across the bottom, both front and rear, byplates E, these cross-plates B and E having their ends bent at a rightangle to form flanges, by which they are firmly riveted to the sideplates A, as represented in Fig. 2.

The frame thus constructed is mounted on truck-wheels b at both frontand rear, the

truckwheels being secured to the side plates A, as shown in Fig. 2.

Bearings for the trunnions of the gun are formed by riveting to the topof the plates A, near the front, semicircular boxes a, which fit intocorresponding recesses cut in the edge of the plates, the pieces ahaving flanges fitting down on each side of the plate, by which they aresecurely riveted to the plates A, as shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 5. Abovethese pieces are secured, by a bolt at each end, a semicircular strap ofmetal, a, it being so arranged that when one of the bolts is withdrawnthe strap can be turned up on the remaining bolt as a hinge.

Upon the outside of each plate Ais secured a spur-gear wheel, T, whichgears with a pinion, at, having a crank, 1, attached rigidly thereto,this pinion and crank being mounted loosely on a stud or journal, Z, onwhich it can be moved to and fro far enough to throw it in and out ofgear with the wheel T, at pleasure, for a purpose to be hereinafterexplained.

Underneath the center, and longitudinally of the carriage, is secured arod, 9, which works in suitable guides secured to the under side of thecross-plates E, as represented in Figs. 1 and 2, this rod being madewedgeshaped at both ends, as represented by 0, Figs. 1 and 2.

A screw-thread is cut on this rod 9 just in front of the rear plate E,and on it, at this point, is mounted a worm-wheel, h, having acorresponding thread, this wheel h being held in place by a stirrup, 'v,secured to the plate E, as shown in Fig. 1.

A rod, i, extends transversely across the carriage, being journaled inthe plates A directly over the wheel or nut h, with the periphery ofwhich it engages by means of a screw-thread, r, as represented in Figs.1 and 3, the rod 1' being provided with a hand wheel or crank, H, bywhich it may be turned, thereby imparting a rotary motion to the nut orwheel h, which, in turn, gives to the rod 9 a longitudinal movement toand fro, according as the crank H is turned in one or the otherdirection.

To the under side of each plate E is secured loosely, by suitable guidesq, two sliding bars,

at, these bars a being arranged in pairs transversely of the carriage,and having their inner ends abutting against the wedges 0 onthe rod 9,as shown more clearly in Fig. 3. The outer ends of these bars a are bentdownward, so as to form strong flanges or angle-irons, which are firmlybolted to a wooden block, I, on each side, these blocks projecting belowthe bottom of the carriage and extending nearly its entire length, asshown in- Fig. 1.

The carriage thus constructed is mounted on a chassis, consisting of twowrought-iron rails, It, connected at front and rear by a strongwrought-iron plate, L, having a projection, N, at its center, with ahole in it, as shown in Fig. 1, by which the chassis may be bolted orpivoted to the deck or bed, so as to be swung laterally either at thefront or rear, as circumstances may require, there being rollers Fsecured at each end of these plates L, on which the chassis is movedlaterally, as desired. The rails It are further secured together bystrong rods 19 at each end, to prevent the possibility of theirspreading apart.

- In making the chassis care is taken to have the rails R slightlyconverging toward their rear end for a special reason, as will behereinafter explained.

To the inner sides of the rails R wooden rails or blocks G are firmlybolted, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, these wooden rails or blocks lyingdirectly alongside of the blocks I, which are attached to and move withthe carriage, the blocks G extending nearly the entire length of therails It.

It will thus be seen that when a gun is mounted on the carriage, and thelatter run to the front end of the chassis, the blocks I can be adjustedor spread to the proper dis tance apart by turning the wheel H, and thusmoving the wedges 0 which bear against the ends of bars a. 'When thecarriage is at the front of the chassis in position for firing the gun,the blocks I should be so adjusted as to press very slightly or not atall against the blocksG, the convergence of the rails R and blocks Gcausing the blocks I to press against the blocks G with aconstant-1y-increasing force, as the carriage is thrown back by therecoil of the gun.

By these means it will be observed that the gun and carriage are leftfree to move at the instant of its discharge, and when the charge isexerting upon the gun its maximum force, and that as the gun recoilsthere is brought to bear upon it a gradually and constantly iir creasingforce to check it, thus relieving the gun of the excessive strain thatis thrown upon it in all cases where the carriage is retarded in itsbackward movement by a regular and constantly equal force. At the sametime, by properly adjusting the blocks I, the gun and carriage can bestopped at any desired point with the greatest certainty and accuracy.

For the purpose of operating the gun-that is, of running it forward orbackward, as occasion may requ'ireI attach to the outside of each railIt a rack-bar, m, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the spur-wheels T on thesides of the carriage projecting down and engaging in these bars m, sothat by turning'the cranks t with their pinions u, and thus impartingmotion to the wheels T, the carriage is moved forward' or backward, asdesired 5 and as the power is thus greatly multiplied, a much lessnumber of men is rendered necessary to operate the gun, and this,especially in the case of the extremely heavy guns now employed, is veryimportant. 7

To prevent the carriage from being dismounted from the chassis, and alsoto prevent the rails of the latter from being spread or separated by thepressure of the blocks I as the carriage is forced back by thedischarge, the cross-bars E are made to extend out over and beyond .therails R; and to their outer ends, on their under side, are secured ateach end metallic pieces or clamps c, which engage under the outer topflange of the rails R, as represented in Fig. 3, thus holding thecariiage securely on the rails and preventing the latter from spreading.

The carriage and chassis, as here represented, are more especiallyadapted for use on shipboard, where the space between decks isnecessarily limited, and where it is, therefore, an object to bring thecarriage and gun as low down as possible. It is obvious that when theyare to be used in other positions they may be modified to suit thecircumstances-as, for instance, when they are to be used where vthere ismore vertical space, as in forts and similar situations, and where theparts may be made taller, then, in such cases, the rod 6 and worm-wheelh may be dispensed with, and the rod 9, with its wedges 0, may beoperated by a handwheel, with a screw-hub working directly on the rearend of the rod 9, which, in such case, would be made to project slightlybehind the plate E for that purpose.

It is also. obvious that, instead of making the rails of the chassisconverging, they may be placed parallel, and the necessary convergencesecured by using wooden blocks G, which should be wedge-shaped, orthicker toward their rear end, the result being the same.

In con structin g carriages for what are term ed broadside-guns, Iconstruct them of wroughtiron side plates A, varying slightly in form,as shown in Fig. 4, and connect them at front by a similar cross-plate,B, and at the rear by a horizontal cross-plate, V, and intermediately bystrong tie-bolts, as represented in Fig. 5. The front end is mounted onan axle, O, on which is secured a wheel, I), at each side, the rear endsof the carriage being provided with metallic blocks (1, having theirends turned up slightly, thus forming a kind of shoe or runner, on whichthe rear end of the carriage slides when the recoil takes place. An eye,f, is secured to the rear cross-bar V, and another eye, a, is secured tothe rear end of the carriage at each side for attaching lines or blocks,as may be necessary for holding or moving the carriage.

By these means I produce a gun-carriage that is much lighter, stronger,and far more durable than those made of wood or cast-iron, and by meansof the improvements in both carriage and chassis the recoil of the gunis controlled in a most efficient manner, with less strain of the gunthan heretofore, while by means of the devices for operating the gun Idispense with fully one-half the number of men heretofore required. Whena carriage of this kind is struck by a projectile it does not splinter,as did the wooden carriages, and thus the danger to the gun-crew isimmensely lessened. A carriage of this kind, when struck and bent, canbe heated and again pressed or hammered into shape and made fit forfurther use, whereas a wooden carriage struck in the same manner wouldbe rendered useless.

In using the carriage mounted on the chassis, it will be apparent thatthe recoil will force it back so as to wedge it fast between the rails.In such case it is only necessary to move the rod 5 and its wedges 0slightly, which will release the carriage, when it can be run forward,when the rod 9 should be moved an equal distance in the oppositedirection, so as to insure proper friction on the blocks at the nextfire. The cranks t and their pinions at are arranged to slide on theirjournals 1, so that when the carriage has been run forward they may bethrown out of gear with the wheels T, and thus prevent their beingbroken, or any one being injured by them accidentally, as they might beif left in gear when the gun is fired.

I am aware that gun-carriages have heretofore been made of cast-iron,and of iron plates riveted together so as to form tubes, and that theyhave been made of iron plates riveted together in connection with ironbars; but none of these are found, in practice, to answer fully thedesired object, and I do not claim such; but,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A gun-carriagecomposed of a single thickness of wroughtiron plates, united asdescribed, whereby all addit-ional strengtheningbars are dispensed with.a

2. The arrangement of the rack on on the chassis, and the wheels T andu, with the crank t on the carriage, for operating the latter, as hereindescribed.

3. The herein-described method of checking the recoil of the gun--thatis to say, by means of a constantly-increasing degree of friction,substantially as described.

4. The combination of the blocks I, arms 12, and wedges 0, when appliedto a gun-carriage and arranged to operate as set forth.

G. R. WILSON.

WVitnesses H. B. MUNN, J. MOKENNY.

